Illuminating insect-catching device

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates to the field of illuminating insect-catching devices, in particular to insect-catching devices comprising an adhesive surface. In particular, the illuminating portion is electrically powered, in one form by standard household power.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

This disclosure relates to the field of illuminating insect-catchingdevices, in particular to insect-catching devices comprising an adhesivesurface. In particular, the illuminating portion is electricallypowered, in one form by standard household power.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

An adhesive insect-catching device as shown in FIGS. 1-5 to be attachedto a night light, having a light emitting portion, an electric plugportion. The a the insect-catching device comprising: a self-supportingflexible structure; a decorative side; an adhesive side comprising anadhesive substance; wherein the adhesive substance attaches theinsect-catching device to the night light; and the adhesive side extendsbeyond the night light such that insects may be captured upon theadhesive substance.

The adhesive insect-catching device may also be configured wherein theself-supporting flexible structure is substantially an ellipse when laidflat prior to or after attaching to the inner surface of the supportingstructure. The adhesive insect-catching device in another embodiment isarranged such that the self-supporting flexible structure issubstantially a circle having a diameter of 4-8 inches in diameter whenlaid flat.

The adhesive insect-catching device may be arranged wherein the nightlight portion further comprises a male plug portion operativelyconfigured to electrically couple to a household power supply.

An adhesive insect-catching device as shown in FIGS. 6-8 is disclosedcomprising: a light emitting portion; a rigid outer portion coupled tothe light emitting portion and extending therefrom; wherein the rigidouter portion comprises an inner surface and an outer surface; aremovable inner portion having an outer surface which substantiallyconforms to the inner surface of the rigid outer portion, and an innersurface; an adhesive layer disposed on the inner surface of the innerportion, the adhesive layer operatively configured to trap insects. Theadhesive insect-catching device may also be arranged such that the lightemitting portion is coupled to a scent emitting portion operativelyconfigured to emit a scent pleasing to humans.

The adhesive insect-catching device may also be arranged wherein theadhesive layer is removably disposed on the inner surface of the innerportion. In this way, the adhesive with insects attached can be removedand discarded (recycled) to reduce waste and cost.

The adhesive insect-catching device may be arranged wherein the innerportion is not coupled to, but simply rests upon the inner surface ofthe pouter portion. As each portion in one form is a frustoconicalshape, the larger upper surface may open upwards, such that gravityholds the inner portion within the outer portion. Of course, in otherorientations, adhesives, or other attachment structures and materialscould be utilized to hold the inner portion within the outer portion.

The adhesive insect-catching device may also comprise a male plugportion operatively configured to electrically couple to a householdpower supply. In the US, this is normally 110 volt AC with well knowntwo (or three) prong plugs and receivers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an insect-catching device attached to astandard household outlet, in one form.

FIG. 2 is a prior art night light, in one form.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the adhesive portion of a insect-catchingdevice, in one form.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway view taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of an insect-catching device, in one form.

FIG. 6 is another embodiment of an insect-catching device, in one form.

FIG. 7 is a rear view of an insect-catching device, in one form.

FIG. 8 is a cutaway view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of another embodiment of an insect-catchingdevice, in one form.

FIG. 10 is a prior art night light, in one form.

FIG. 11 is a top view of the insect-catching device shown in FIG. 9 withthe night light removed.

FIG. 12 is a cutaway view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Described herein is a simple and novel apparatus for reducing the numberof insects in one's home, and it generally comprises a light-emittingportion similar to a prior art night light and an adhesive portion fortrapping the insects. While the term “insects” is used, it would beobvious that this device would also catch other small animals such asarachnids, worms, etc. The term insects will be used in this disclosureto include all such creatures.

Looking to FIG. 1 is an insect-catching device 20, in one form. Thisview generally shows the adhesive portion 22 and a standard electricoutlet 24, comprising a plurality of female electric receptacles 26.Looking to FIG. 2, one embodiment of a prior art night light 28 isshown, comprising a light-emitting portion 30 and a plurality of maleelectric plugs 32, which engage the female electric receptacles 26 ofFIG. 1. The night light 28 of FIG. 2 may also comprise a scent emitter34, which could be configured to emit a scent that is pleasing tohumans. Such night-light and scent emitter combinations are well knownin the art, such as is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,478,440, incorporatedherein by reference.

FIG. 3 shows the adhesive portion 22 laid flat to show the simplicity ofthe design. While it is shown as an elongated ellipse, it also couldhave other forms, including a circle, which is a special form of anellipse.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 3,taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3. As shown, the adhesive portion 22, inone form, comprises an adhesive surface 36, which has an adhesivesubstance 38 disposed thereon. A flexible structure 40 is also attachedto the adhesive surface 36, in one form, to add rigidity to the device.In one form, the outer surface 42 of the adhesive portion 22 isdecorative, either by texture, color or a combination thereof.

Looking to FIG. 5, it can be seen how the adhesive surface 36 is adheredto the outer surface of the night light 28, such that the adhesivesurface 36 would capture any insects 44 coming into contact with theadhesive surface 36. The outer surface 42 would be most visible tousers, as the outlet 24 shown in FIG. 1 is generally attached to aplanar wall, and thus the adhesive surface 36 would face said wall. Inone form, the insect-catching device 20 is opaque, such that users wouldnormally not be in position to view the insects 44 which may becomeentrapped by the adhesive surface 36. To ease in manufacture, theadhesive surface 36 may be continuous from the upper edge 46 to thelower edge 48, such that the portion of the adhesive which attaches theadhesive portion 22 to the outer surface of the night light 28 would besubstantially the same material as the portion which entraps the insects44. This would allow the adhesive portion 32 to attach to a multitude ofdifferent night-lights 28 of varying configurations.

Moving to FIG. 6, another embodiment of the insect-catching device 50 isshown, which generally comprises a rigid outer portion 52, which iscoupled to the night light portion 54 and a removable inner portion 56,which is operably configured to entrap the insects, and may be removedfrom the rigid outer portion 52 and in some cases discarded or recycled.The rigid outer portion 52 generally comprises an inner surface 58 andan outer surface 60. The removable inner portion 56, as shown in FIG. 7,also comprises an inner surface 62 and an outer surface 64. In one form,the outer surface 64 is configured to the inner surface 58 of the rigidouter portion 52. When the insect-catching device 50 is oriented suchthat the upper edge 66 of the rigid outer portion 52 is vertically abovethe lower edge 68, gravity may be sufficient to keep the removable innerportion 56 within the inner surface 58 of the rigid outer portion 52. Ofcourse, removable adhesives, Velcro, and other adhesive or restrainingstructures and materials could be utilized.

Looking to FIG. 8, which is a cross sectional view of the removableinner portion 56 taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 7, the different layersare easily perceived. In one form, the removable inner portion 56comprises a rigid inner structure 70 and an adhesive layer 72, whichforms the inner surface 62 of the removable inner portion 56. In oneform, the adhesive layer 72 may comprise multiple sub-layers, such as anadhesive sub-layer 74, configured to couple a carrier sub-layer 76 tothe rigid inner structure 70. In this form, a second adhesive sub-layer78 may be disposed on the carrier layer 76 to entrap insects, whichwould encounter the adhesive sub-layer 78.

In the embodiment shown, to replace the adhesive layer, the removableinner portion 56 could either be removed from the rigid outer portion 52and discarded or the adhesive layer 72 could be removed from the rigidinner structure 70 wherein the adhesive layer 72 would be discarded andreplaced with a new layer.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 9 is an insect-catching device 80 coupledto a prior art night light 82, shown in FIG. 10. The insect-catchingdevice 80 generally incorporates several of the novel concepts of theprior two embodiments. In this embodiment, a rigid structure 84 isattached to the night light 82 and generally comprises an outer surface86 and an inner surface 88, shown in FIG. 11. In one form, the rigidstructure 84 is moldable to allow the structure 84 to be fitted to nightlight 82 of various configurations. An adhesive layer 90 is disposed onthe inner surface 88, and in one form, the adhesive layer 90, as shownin FIG. 12, comprises an adhesive 92, which couples a carrier layer 94to the rigid structure 84. The inward surface 96 of the adhesive layer90 comprises an adhesive 98, as previously disclosed, and generally isconfigured to entrap insects that encounter said adhesive 98.

While the present invention is illustrated by description of severalembodiments and while the illustrative embodiments are described indetail, it is not the intention of the applicants to restrict or in anyway limit the scope of the appended claims to such detail. Additionaladvantages and modifications within the scope of the appended claimswill readily appear to those sufficed in the art. The invention in itsbroader aspects is therefore not limited to the specific details,representative apparatus and methods, and illustrative examples shownand described. Accordingly, departures may be made from such detailswithout departing from the spirit or scope of applicants' generalconcept.

1. An adhesive insect-catching device comprising: a. a light emittingportion; b. a rigid outer portion coupled to the light emitting portionand extending therefrom; c. wherein the rigid outer portion comprises aninner surface and an outer surface; d. a removable inner portion havingan outer surface which substantially conforms to the inner surface ofthe rigid outer portion, and an inner surface; e. an adhesive layerdisposed on the inner surface of the inner portion, the adhesive layeroperatively configured to trap insects, wherein said removable innerportion is held in place via gravity.
 2. The adhesive insect-catchingdevice as recited in claim 1 wherein the light emitting portion iscoupled to a scent-emitting portion operatively configured to emit ascent pleasing to humans.
 3. The adhesive insect-catching device asrecited in claim 1 wherein the adhesive layer is removably disposed onthe inner surface of the inner portion.
 4. The adhesive insect-catchingdevice as recited in claim 1 further comprising a male plug portionoperatively configured to electrically couple to a household powersupply.